Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It does plenty of different things, but we know it as the substance that helps our skin stay smooth, plump and youthful. Indeed, when we get older, our collagen production decreases. Hence, we end up with wrinkled and saggy skin. It’s led to dozens of cosmetic creams and products on the market that are advertised as anti-ageing because they help you increase collagen production. 

Is this actually possible? Can you get your skin to produce more collagen? 

Yes, you can! However, it’s not as straightforward as you might think…

Do collagen creams and lotions work?

There are lots of creams and lotions out there that contain collagen and claim to help improve your skin’s youthfulness. Unfortunately, these products don’t work. Collagen can’t be absorbed through the skin barrier, so it’s basically useless in this form. 

Instead, you need to look for creams that are collagen-boosting. This means they include ingredients that are proven to help increase collagen production – or to stop your production from decreasing. Two of the main ingredients to look for are: 

  • Hyaluronic acid
  • Retinol

You can find moisturisers including these ingredients, but it’s often better to use serums that only contain them as they will be more potent. 

Should you take collagen supplements?

Yes, collagen supplements are a good way to naturally increase your skin’s production of collagen. Well, it will increase production throughout your body, which will mean there’s more collagen in your skin. 

From here, you end up with firmer and younger-looking skin that’s less likely to show the signs of ageing. There are many collagen supplements out there, but most people take them in powdered form. They definitely do work, but it can be difficult to continue taking them as you might forget every now and then. 

What other ways can you boost collagen production?

Aside from products containing hyaluronic acid and retinol, or collagen supplements, what else can you do to make more of this precious protein? 

Well, there are many cosmetic treatments that specifically target collagen and convince your body to start making more of it. One that’s particularly popular at the moment is the Plasma Pen. It uses a unique technology that applies an energised gas to your skin which will heat the deeper layers and encourage collagen cells to reproduce. Now, you can undergo Plasma Pen training, but the chances are you’ll be unable to provide it to yourself. It is best handled by a trained professional in a proper beauty salon. 

Lots of other cosmetic treatments exist and they all kind of use the same overall technique. The idea is to encourage the skin’s natural defence system to send loads of blood to the area, which will heal the skin and boost collagen production. 

So, you can definitely get your skin to produce more collagen and combat the signs of ageing. However, don’t fall for cheap tricks like collagen skin creams. Always check that any product claiming it can give you more collagen includes hyaluronic acid or retinol. If it says it has collagen in it, this won’t do anything! Of course, supplements and cosmetic treatments are alternative ways of getting your body to produce more of this crucial thing.